AMENDING MEASURES

Hawera Star, Volume L, 28 August 1930, Page 5

AMENDING MEASURES

DOMINION PARLIAMENT BANK OF NEW ZEALAND BILL : PROPOSAL NEGATIVED. . (By Telegraph—Press Association.) • WELLINGTON, Aug, 27. The Life Insurance Agents Bill (Mr C. Carr), the Stock Amendment Bill (the Hon. A. J. Murdoch), and the Napier Harbour Board Loans Enabling Bill (Mr W. E. Barnard) were introduced in the House of Representatives to-day and read a first time. ; : Mr Carr, in introducing the Insurance Agents Bill, said it was- designed to protect the, public against life insurance agents unworthy of the trust and the duties with which they were concerned. It was along the lines of similar provisions with respect to laud and other agents. The Bill was also intended to protect genuine insurance agents by operating against those whose character and ability did riot warrant their acting in isuch a capacity. It would serve to prevent a stigma, being case on the more honourable members of the calling. The Magistrate's Courts. Amendment Bill (Mr H. G. R. Mason)' was read a second time. The Coal Alines Amendment Bill (Mr H. E. Holland) was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Goldfields and Alines Committee.

The Hon. W. A. Veitch was appointed to the special unemployment, committee in place of the Hon. E. A. Ransom, who as acting-Leader of the House had insufficient time to attend all the meetings of the committee. The Alagi strafe's Court Amendment Bill wa.s put through the committee stage without amendment. The Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill (Air F. Langstone) was considered in committee. Air W. D. Stewart said he did not think the House would acquiesce in the restrictions embodied in the Bill t For instance. there was a restriction that not only the directors hut also shareholders in other concerns should he debarred from being directors of the hank. Other clauses were too farreaching. . - BANK SYSTEM CRITICISED.

Air Langstone said there was widespread dissatisfaction with the way in which the bank was being conducted. He believed drastic alterations should he made at a time like the. present when finance was of such vital concern.

The Hon. E. A. Ransom said the Government was unable to give its support to the measure. While it. was admitted that the directors of the bank should as far as possible be untrammelled by outside interests, ' un-" less the men had occupied outside commercial positions it would be difficult to ascertain what were their qualifications fox- appointment to the board of the bank. It was considered the Government had adequate representation on the directorate. Mr Veitch said he did not desire to defend the legislation of the past. The Government at one time had owned one-half of the shares in the hank, but now it owned only one-third,. He he- , lieved there was need for consideration of the whole question of currency jin New Zealand, hut the Bill did not touch the fringe of a problem that j was of vital importance in New Zealand and in Australia.

Mr M. J. Savage said the people of New Zealand would some day insist on the banking business being con-., ducted on the same lines as the Post and Telegraph Department. Mr Langstone’s Bill was the first step towards, that end. Mr Langstone said there was no . share capital in the savings hanks or A in the post offices. It should he possible to obtain men of the necessary experience from these quarters to he appointed to the board of the hank. The Bill was defeated on a division on the short title bv 38 votes to 26. The Afagistrates Courts Amendment R-’ 1 ! was read a third time and passed. R ATING AMENDAIENT. The interrupted debate oii the second reading of the Rating Amendment Bill was resumed. Air. Alason, replying, said a receut judgment of the Court of Appeal had largely eliminated the need for the Bill, because the Court had held that the section of the original Act which the Bill sought to remove was highly superfluous. The decision of the Court on that point was. sufficient. The Bill was read a second time. Air. C. E. Macmillan was given leave to withdraw his Coroners Amendment Bill. He stated that he desired to do so because a similar Bill had since been' introduced from the Legislative Council. r Aloving the second reading of the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill. Air. Mason said that as. lie had already explained, the Bill gave local bodies the right to choose their own system of voting. Air. de la Perrelle said it would be a. mistake to alter the system, which was giving satisfaction in the majority of cases. He would not like to see the Bill rushed through, and lie sug- ■ gested it should be referred to the Local Bills Committee. Air. R. A. Wright agreed with the suggestion that the Bill should go before tlie committee. The Hon. A. J. Stallworthy supported the Bill, remarking that the amendment was a very wise one. Air. Alason, replying, said he did not, think anything could be gained by referring the Bill to the committee. The issue was a simple one and did not break any new ground. The Bill was read a second time. FAATTLY ALLOWANCES. .. Aloving the second reading of the' Family Allowances Amendment Bill, Air. Barnard outlined the measure. He appealed to the Government to take up the Bill. Air. Cobbe said lie was' sure practically every member of the House was in sympathy with the Bill, but it would involve the expenditure of between £4OOO and £SOOO a year. He thought it advisable that the whole question of pensions should be dealt with at. once. It. would not be sound principle to deal with it- piecemeal.. Itwas possible the Government might subsequently introduce legislation bearing on the whole subject of pensions. The Prime Alinister would be going into the matter at the Imperial Conference. Messrs J. S. Fletcher, W. E,. Parry and J. A. Nash expressed support for the Bill, which was read a second time. The House rose at 2.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.